RPG: Cruor on the Danube

[Flah Blah]

Cruor on the Danube;
the beginning
"What a fine decade this has turned out to be. War, riot, assassination...the Age of Aquarius, indeed." - Lacroix

The once vast sea of azure sky slowly metamorphosed to a dark sapphiric hue with light hints of amethyst and roseate, even the moon and stars had competition this evening for the true jewel of the night was palpably the sky itself. The breath-taking image of the heavens in perfect contrast to that of the sickly carnage in the Danube river; a silent mockery.

The two sides of the river, regardless of the time of night, was still as busy as it would be in the day if not more so. People and vampires were in a frenzy, restless in their anxiety of another attack, another burned down home, another separation of friends, another loss of a loved one and another death. The endless cycle of hostilities, broken hearts, loss of hope are all just another component of war; their war; vampire versus human. Or was it?

The malignant deity concealed in the heavily defiled water chuckled to itself for its own ingenuity. Slitted sanguine eyes glowing beneath the river's surface as He watched a nearby couple ambling just a few yards away from Him. Their disgustingly content faces emitting such mirth and love it sickened Him to the very core. They won't be smiling now...

The man of the couple got down to one knee before his lover, a look of genuine love and care apparent in his expression as he began to slip the diamond ring upon her slender finger.

" Sylvia, will you marr-"

His words were cut off as the woman he loved screamed in utter torture: the very finger he had put the ring on was ripped from the rest of her hand and before he could react her eyes rolled back in her sockets as her entire being exploded, sending out a spray of crimson liquid and internal organs in all directions, completely covering the man in blood. He stood there silently in horror as a low, mesmerizing and haunting laugh echoed in his midst.

" She would have said no anyway..." He jeered.

The man let out a gasp of pain as he felt something lacerate his very heart, stepping backwards. His body fell into the adjacent river. 0-57, another body to add to His watery graveyard collection. What fun.

- - - - - - - - - - -
She saw it all, from the moment the young lad proposed to his beloved, to the moment the creature pierced the boy's heart with blood-tainted claws. She stood still there in sudden shock, she couldn't move even if she wanted to, she was terrified. Run. As she slowly turned her body to move she felt what seemed to be sharp incisors digging into her neck.

" Where are you off to, love?" the mesmerizing voice cooed. She screamed.

Corinne bolted upright, the familiar darkness apparent as she opened her vermillion hued opticals, her body trembling in trepidation whilst consecutively inhaling deeply to calm herself. It was only a dream. Regardless that it was only a dream, Corinne had seen something with her eyes, which was a first, and that frightened her.

Feeling around for her cane, it was obsidian in colour but simplistic in style and sleek, Corinne then proceeded out her bedroom chamber and up the spiral staircase to the main level of the d'Allemagne manor. Marius was seated at the top step, his cadaverous facade buried into his palms, palpably in deep contemplation. His magnificent atramentous head lifted slightly as Corinne ascended toward him, his brow arching inquiringly.

"You're up early, the sun hasn't even completely setted yet, dear. Is something troubling you Corinne?"

" Nothing, just had a nightmare..."

The younger girl sighed dejectedly as she brushed past her elder brother, heading toward the grand mahagony doors of their brilliantly decored household. Corinne tapped the substantial wood with the tip of her cane, searching for the door knob. Marius quickly inserted himself between the doorway and his sister, turning the knob himself.

" Stay within the the grounds Corinne, the sun may be setting but it's still possible to burn yourself. Twenty minutes, no more or I will reprimand you."

Corinne scoffed rebelliously as she once again brushed past her brother's larger frame, her mind racing with a myriad of thoughts about what she had dreamed about. It seemed so real that it was almot surreal -- if that made any sense. Corinne was long gone from the d'Allemagne property when she realized it had been past twenty minutes, she turned to go back the other way when a revolting scent overwhelmed her. It was blood, not like the sweet and enlightening smell of the blood she drank for nourishment...it was mixed with the horrid stench of the river's murky water.

Corinne remained where she was, completely paralysed. She knew that Marius probably wouldn't be able to hear her from within their household if she screamed but if he were outside there was a slight possibility. Nonetheless, the young girl didn't know what else she could do. Deep breath...don't do anything sudden if It's still here... Corinne wound her phalanges so tightly around her black cane that her knuckles turned white, as if she were clutching it for dear life.

" Marius! "

[Luzifer]

Fredrick leaned himself against his scabbarded sword, now being used quite effectively as a staff. He smirked slightly to himself at how much of an insult this must be to his ancestors that their longsword, which must have cost a fortune in the day it was made, was now being used as a humble walking stick by their descendant who was not masquerading himself as a pilgrim (quite well, Frederick thought with relish). The gold leaf cross guards had been easily enough covered by a little cloth wrapping and with the accompanying robe of what could barely be called burlap it not even his own relatives would be able to spot him in a crowd. And he was alone on the road and that made him a little glibber than usual, "I am Fredrick Hohenstaufen the Fourth." he said with taunting mirth to the air, and the air obliged him, "I am the descendant of great emperors and sole heir to a hedgerow in Hamburg. I have the blood of kings and paupers in my veins the sword of the knight and the clothes of a pilgrim. I! Named after two men who went on Crusade, could scarcely find honor in a bucket!" He laughed at himself and at his own mirth. Oh how he'd pulled a fast one! Two months ago he'd be sighing and staring over something ghastly, finances!, but now he walked the free road of a pilgrim... with no direction home and no direction forward! This was the life! True King, he was! No arithmetic to worry about, just a way to get another square and that was all. And no amount of geometry would help him to garner this square! He laughed to himself.

He walked a while long and he began to notice the trackless forest giving way to the light of open space... he hadn't been expecting to get to the Danube towns until tomorrow. He smirked wanly to himself, he wondered if these people would be as dilutedly idiotic as the last batch...most likely. People were, on the whole, dumb beyond all redemption... but he liked it better that way... they reminded him how precious his gift of sanity and rationality was! God! These were indeed the sons of the "Reformation"! What a bunch of crap that was! Was religion so important as to start wars over it! Not that he was defending the Catholics, let it be minded, indulgences made an already silly institution positively wretched, but violence! Heh... well... people have to get their kicks somehow,right?

Fredrick smirked to himself and enter the town...humans were bustling around him, filled with whispers and half-words. There was palpable energy, as though the communal nerve had been struck for this village... the sun was setting and people looked towards it longingly and Fredrick could not ascertain why. He chuckled to himself, some foolish superstition most likely...

[Fionn Mac]

The sun once again began its descent behind the Carpathian mountain range, giving dominance of the sky to the night and those who walked under its shadowed veil. So was the end of another day, or in some the respect the beginning of the said "day." The same scenes replaying in accordance with night and day; Families along the Danube turning in for the night, finding solace in the presence of their loved ones as the night's cool wind swept through the land, those of the night awakening to enjoy their inversed domain and those who found neither light nor dark to their liking, finding themselves amongst both "worlds", seeking a form of comfort either in the form of wandering...or in the form of a bottle.

The familiar sounds of the night, the clinking of glasses, muttled conversations and creaking of floorboards, filled the small weathered tavern. A motley range of characters gathered in one spot, a rather odd sight for an objective eye, though odd sights in these parts were all to common.
An escape from what was considered reality or from ones own thoughts was what little the tavern seemingly offered.
Then a small crash echoed throughout the small establishment, no more than the dropping of some plates, though enough of a misplaced chord to awaken the warn looking man at the far corner of the room.

His eyes labouringly opened, their view blurred by the dancing candle lights that reflected off the assortment of tankards that dawned his table. His bearded cheeks slightly red, a mix of an alcohol flush and tear stained pores. This man was once Ciaran O'Callum, who's former persona would never have found comfort in such a place. Though, this was no longer the enigmatic O'Callum that for a time stood against the Danube's current, calling for notions of peace. No, that part of this man had been separated from him for sometime...much like those who once lived together along the Danube. The man that remained was nothing more now than a nameless player in the taverns cast.

[KuroTan]

The sun had almost set by the time Anthony Tatwine emerged into the clearing where he had built his cabin. He had a pair of dead deer slung across his shoulders, no doubt the rewards of a succesful hunt and, if one were to observe him closely, seemed to be talking to himself.

"What a hunt! The chase, the capture! That was a thrill wasn't it? I thought we lost them when they crossed the stream but it seems nothing can get past that nose of yours. We'll be eating like lords tonight!"

Opening the door to his humble abode revealed a simple yet furnished home. There was a table in the middle of the it, a few chairs and, pushed far into the end, two beds. All of them fashioned from the same trees that Anthony used to build his home. As he set down his kill down the floor he looked back out of the door and called out

"Well aren't you coming in? It's getting dark."

Hurriedly, a black wolf came slinking out of the forest. Curiously, it semed to be avoiding the small patches of sunlight that managed to filter through the canopy. Clearing the last few meters with a leap, it bounded into the cabin and straight behind one of the beds. A few moments later, a boy with the same hair colour as the wolf emerged.

"What is this talk of thrill? You did not even join in the chase. It was I who tracked the beasts and it was I who brought them down. You only collected them from where they lay defeated.

"Specifics, specifics! It matters not. I was in the forest too. Ergo, I was part of the hunt. Now if you will excuse me Lewis, I would like to nip down the tavern and get a couple drinks to help the scrumptious feast we shall be eating later down." With a small salute he was off.

"I was in the forest too?" What logic is this? But what does it matter. Anthony is Anthony, that is just the way he works. He moved to prepare the deer.

As he touched one, he suddenly felt an involuntary spasm run down his back. Looking outside, he immediately identified the source. The sun had set. It was the vampire's turn to walk the land.

[Nespa]

millian tiptoed down the stairs and pressed her back to the wall, looking around the corner into the hall she saw no guards. She moved down the hall and quickly opened the door that was tehre. Once outside she sighed, she had to be extra carefull this time. she did not want to be caught her elder said if he caught her sneaking again she would be grounded for 50 years. she quickly moved to the river bank and used her levetation to cross it wrinkleing her nose att he smell the river gave off. at the other side, she turned to the castle pulled her lower eyelid down and stuck out her tongue. This was the final night she would call that castle her home if she could it that anyway. Transforming into a small black cat with a brown spot at the back of her neck she turned and ran into the forest.

[MaruDashi]

Alice sat in a large chair and stared at the window on the other side of the room. She watched the sunset from the shadows and let out a small sigh to herself. She always wondered what it was like...to be able to be out in the sun. She watched as Reginald walked in, her face showed discontent.

"Sorry cricket, busy today."
He paused, and looked at the open window.
"You know better."

"Ashamed of me?"

"You know damn well they'll burn you alive if they found you here."

"....what makes you different?"

"..........you know why."

The fact that he didnt say it outright made her eyes swell with tears, which quickly disappeared when her pulled out several stakes. Her lip quivered a bit.
"Fresh?"

"Still warm too."

She watched him drain the blood into a large glass. He handed it to her, then drained the rest into a decorated flask and stored it next to his brandy. She drank it, her face in a state of pure utopia, ignoring the thought of drinking animal blood to be degrading she had the day before.

[FullMetalAlchemist997]

Mercy looked out the window. She laughed to herself. I might finally be able to leave soon. One of her brothers, James, came down the stairs.

"You're not staying the night, Mercy?" James asked a little uncertainly. He knew Mercy hated staying with her family but it would be nice to see for more than a night and day.

"Of course not. I'm leaving as soon as I'm quite sure the sun has gone" Mercy said. She heard James sigh to himself and walk back up the stairs of the family home. She wasn't staying here if she could help it. Finally when the last vestiges of orange light left Mercy left.
She swept down the streets quietly. She wasn't staying with her family they'd try to force her to something or make her drink. She'd left about 15 years ago not very long but enough for her to be grateful for her independence. She hummed softly to herself not immediately setting out for the house she now called "home". She lingered by the Danube for a moment but quickly left for some horrible smell lingered over it.

[Inc0gnit0]

OOC: I know this doesn't actually situate me in the story but I found it was very important for everyone to truly understand Chrenos's character.

IC: "What is your opinion on coincidences young master Tetric?"

"Does it matter?"

"Does the bird fly south for winter?"

"What a stupid answer.."

"For a stupid reply"

Chrenos remembered his first tutor well. He had been a scholar all his life and never understood the way of the warrior but from him Chrenos learnt so much. From him Chrenos learnt the most fundamental truth of all: "Life is logical, logic is life...remember this master Tetric and no question will be impossible to answer."

Using this fundamental Chrenos based his whole system of values. Around this fundamental phrase Chrenos built his whole character, his whole beliefs.

"What is life mister Tetric?"

"Life? Life is a lot of things, life is the opposite of death, life is the time allocated to us to perform our part in the grand cosmos."

"Is that all life is? What about everything outside your control, what about the butterflies that fly in the fields. Aren't they part of life?"

"There is no way to answer that question..."

"Have you not learnt anything by my side..."

"Life is logical, logic is life..."

"Exactly..."

From that day on Chrenos had made it his duty to have an answer for everything and in his search he came up with an interesting discovery. Unfortunately his tutor would never hear this theory for he died of an unknown disease before Chrenos could finish it. However his tutor would always live on in this ideology that Chrenos established for himself. Life was like a mathematical equation constantly trying to balance itself. What was more logic then the hard facts that composed mathematical operations? Life as we know it is the sum of all choices performed by all beings in a certain setting.

Chrenos quickly became aware that coincidences were a myth. Coincidences were simply events that came form unknown choices. Find these choices and coincidences were demystified. Understand choices and you can predict future choices. Predict future choices and you can predict events. Chrenos practiced this theory during his years as a soldier and it served him well. Based on everyday choices Chrenos learnt much on the human nature. Found out that even the most spontaneous individuals were governed by a set of rules and their choices were bound to follow a certain pattern.

It became a science to Chrenos, it became a way of life. Needless to say that Chrenos never believed in religion. Religion went against the logic of this world. Nothing could be created, nothign could be destroyed that was science's first law. A mathematical equation had to be balanced, thatw as math's first law. But religion bipased these boundaries with stories of creation and divine retribution. Divinity if it were to exist would create an imbalance in the formula, nothign would ever be certain. By the will of a mystic being 2+2 could become 5. To believe in logic is to say without any doubt that no matter what, 2+2 equals 4.

[Fionn Mac]

"How has one such as I, fallen so far...to have everything and lose it in an instant...how has one such as I been unable to move on...even just a little"
Thought Ciaran, as he was now awake, his heavily inebriated mind allowed to once again race through the thoughts that he longed to expel...thus explaining his seemingly routine residence at the tavern.
Contrary to the normal lot of drunkards, Ciaran did not become angry nor overly happy for that matter when he ventured far past what was considered a night cap. Much to his dismay he did not take on any alternative persona, he simply stayed the same distant, withdrawn man...long since embarassed by his disheveled appearance or alcohol laden breath.

Feeling he had enough for the night, oddly being able to cut off his own tap as well as if somepart of his former self prevented him from going too far, Ciaran slowly got up from his usual corner table. He made his way to the main bar to paying the stout old owner and giving his daughter an appreciative nod, as she did her best to be kind and sociable to someone as quiet and out of it as he was, without out being bothersome.
As he began to exit the tavern, the owner gave a quick whistle and tossed back a coin of the previous payment. Eyeing Ciaran as if requesting something, the owner's usual plain expression showed a small sign of content as Ciaran simply nodded back before exiting the tavern.

Not going far at all, Ciaran did his best to keep his hindered balance as he sat on a wooden crate that rested against the outside front wall of the tavern. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small Irish tin whistle and placed the worn mouthpiece to his lips and began to play.
As he played, a haunting yet beautiful melody moved through the tavern and upon the cool night's breeze, carrying its sound seemingly along the stretches of the Danube. Even the most hardened and brash partrons seemed captivated in the almost mornful melody.

[Luzifer]

Ah but how the darkness was sweeter here than back home in hamburg. there it was cold and damp and seemingly filled with the teeming illnesses that never seemed to affect Fredrich's kingly constitution. Not one of those overly robust, muscled toughnesses but a viper's durability was present in his form, and he liked it that way. Too many muscles gave one that pathetic notion to use them! What poor coin those were! Muscles did not make a meal... unless one was of the type to cannabalize than they tasted great with some salt and nice rub of basil and cinnamon, according to his sources- which were books of highest, and therefore lowest, order. But those books did not hold the slightest wick to Dionysius the Areopagite or Roger Bacon or whatever other great leaders of the pen he might wish to mention, but then they were still better than that drivel Calvin had written, or Luther's mad ravings upon the door of Wittenburg! But such things were the scryings of the blind and songs of the deaf, not worth the considerations of connoisseurs of the written word, such as himself. But oh how they tried! It was adorable really.

Fredrich walked down the road and his good mood began to wane momentarily... but what was he doing? He had gotten freedom from that awful "nobility" caste he had been born into but this pilgrim's life was by no means rewarding if he lacked a direction in his wanders. Learning was enjoyable but joy in and of itself was meaningless... a false front put on by life to entice those unwilling or unable due to their weak minds and wills to reach below its surface... everyone he had met had been of that lesser class... poor fools.

Not that misery was any better, it was like sex in that it had no point. It led only to hideous progeny that further continued the line of misery through its own. An escalating cycle of pointless spiritual orgasms that never gain the person anything... agony had its uses but taken for its own sake it was nothing but a repose for those unwilling or unable due to weakness of spirit to pursue more obvious "pleasures"

Fredrich spat... what a pathetic world this was. And suddenly the most awful sound pierced his ears. The sound was emanating from small Irish tin whistle of some player and it pierced his ears with its sharp obnoxious sounds. He had never liked to products of Ireland, except for Scotus Eriugena it had been mostly marginal things such as Catholicism and various foods that could easily be grown elsewhere... not that Scotus Eriugena didn't compensate adequately for the other mediocrities. But it was not so much the sound of the music as it was the composition, it was an emotion based melody and those were profoundly unsatisfying. Fredrich was by no means a lover of the musical arts, finding the whole thing a waste of precious time and an annoyance that only distracted him from more important thoughts, but it was the emotions that he truly disliked. He preferred the mathematical sounds of true orchestras. Not some pathetic whinings of wretches who would rather waste their lives or the pointless musings of myopic romantics that never bothered to look out their windows at the men and women sicking up in the streets. Music inspired those who should not be inspired... those who should be inspired produced the inspiration within themselves and did not need to spiritual salves of others for whatever cuts they received but rather saw them as the minor scrapes they were.

[MaruDashi]

Seeing that it was now dark out, Alice quickly hurried out, completly disreguarding if there could possibly be someone passing by. She twirled a bit and took a deep breath of the cool night air.
"It feels so good to get out and stretch!"

"I dont need to remind you to behave, do I?"
Reg let out a soft smile as he put on a mask to hide who he was, in case anyone he encountered during the day should see him with Alice.

"You worry far too much. If anyone saw you, it would give me the oppurtunity to have a decent meal...you know, to protect your reputation."
She gave him a small smile and a giggle as if she were joking, though deep down she wasnt.
"I want to wonder the forest tonight!"

[FullMetalAlchemist997]

Mercy knew she was wandering aimlessly through the streets. She didn't actually care, just putting one foot in front of the other Mercy hadn't realized how close she had gotten to the bar until the pugent smell of whiskey made her look up.
About leave and head back home Mercy was caught by a melody that would've wrenched tears from her had she been a woman to show her emotions.
As it was Mercy simply stopped and stared into the night as the unknown player weaved notes up and down the scale. Mercy almost closed her eyes to listen to the doleful sounds better, she caught herself in time.
A dim part of her mind wanted her to continue on home so that she wouldn't be caught by some passerby expecting her to feed. Not that Mercy's feet seemed willing to obey, she gave up and stood where she was not caring how much time would pass between now and when the mysterious player decided to stop.

[Nespa]

milie moved through the forest, by now the elders would have found out she was gone again and she expected not to look for her until she didn't return tommorow. She had switched back to her human form again to feed of a elderly deer that she ha came across. Though she did not like to kill she had to feed. when she came closer to the edge of the forest she moved back in her catform and almost walked out when she heard someone say "i want to wander in the forest tonight" she voice sounded sweet and made her way to the voice, seeing a girl and a boy she decided this was probely the best chance to get a temporary home. She walked towards alice and rubbed her back against her leg mewing.

[KuroTan]

Anthony was walking merrily, thinking about the feast he would be having when he returned home, when the sound of music filling the peaceful night sky made him pause for a moment. It was... sad? Yet it felt as if there was something else in it. Not happiness though. More of... hope? Yes, that seemed a good word.

He found the source of the music in front of the very tavern he was about to get his drinks from. It was coming from a man who, by the looks of it, had too much of the drink. But his eyes were not of those of a stoned man. They reflected a different persona altogether. Intrigued, Anthony waited for the man to finish before saying.

"A little too sad don't you think for an evening as beautiful as this?" Anthony held out his hand. "The name's Anthony."

Why am I always the cook? Lewis grumbled half-heartedly. He really did not mind all the household duties he had, after all, a vampire wandering around the village would instantly be struck down. He felt he didn't need the added aggravation a confrontation would bring and as such, was happy to just stay in the house and, occasionally, venture out into the forest that made up their backyard to exercise his limbs.

He had just finished putting in the venison in the oven when he suddenly tensed. Changing into a wolf, he confirmed what his gut had told him. There were vampires in town. Two in the forest and one, is that correct, one in town itself? Doesn't she know how dangerous it is to be here right now? Trusting in the fact that the dinner would take care of itself, Lewis morphed back into a human and put on his most ordinary clothes before stepping out of the cabin. Breaking into a brisk pace, he set off to find her.

[MaruDashi]

Alice felt something touch her leg. It was soft and warm...and meowed. She looked down to see a darling kitty, of which Alice quickly picked it up and cuddled with it.

"Isnt she precious?"

"........."

"Pleeeeaseeeeee! I'll name her Dinah and I'll play with her all day, and you wouldnt have to worry about me getting into trouble, and...and..."
Alice desperetly tried to come up with an excuse to keep the small cat.

With a deep sigh, Reginald nodded that she could keep the blasted animal.
"You're lucky Im not allergic to cats like I am to dogs....still want to go wondering in the woods with the poor thing?"

Alice shook her head no.
"I want to see if a store is open, so we can buy her food and a colar!"
She saw the look on Reg's face, and quickly continued before he could speak.
She widely grinned at him.
"See? Normal teeth. I could just say I have a skin condition. And its only just dusk, someplace must be open! AND, you can stop wearing that silly mask, since my staying indoors during the day is due to illness!"
She gave him a childish smile.

Reg couldnt help but give in, afterall, she had a good point. He took off the mask and offered her his shoulder. Once she took it, he escorted her to the nearest shop for animal supplies.

[FullMetalAlchemist997]

Mercy left immediately after the music stopped. She'd wandered enough, not to mention the fact that if any one saw her she could be in deep trouble. This time as she set off her steps were purposeful though not very quick. She trusted that she could hold her own for a while.
She hummed to herself coming up on the place where her house was. At least I'm in the right neighborhood...Mercy thought stopping for a moment, the reasons unknown to anyone but herself. James or Gregory would faint at the thougth of their little sister being out in the town so late.
That is they would if they knew, Mercy never told her family what she did. They'd be shocked at half the things she did. Mercy smiled, of course they would, they were all depressingly normal. She leaned against a wall, no longer in a hurry to get home this was her domain besides she could see the side of her building from here. She hummed a tuneless little song, wating for...for something, she'd heard something as to what it was, Mercy wasn't sure. She would find out.

[Nespa]

millie purred when she was picked up. She mewed softly at the girls antics and guesed dinah was always better then what her elders often called her. When she sniffed the girl however she blinked 'another vampire?' she thought curiously. She knew she was better of fleeing, other vampires could mean she could be taken back to the castel. However the girl was with a human so perhaps she had chosen her own life. She just purred when they went to the shop deciding to see where this went.

[Inc0gnit0]

The rain had stopped a while back but still he was drenched to the bone. Carrying nothing but necessity and wet necessity at the moment Chrenos had to endure the cold clutches of the night wind. His wet rags prevented in no way the warmth of his body from disapearing into the atmosphere. Chrenos was now standing at the edge of the road he had followed and was looking out in the distance. It was quite dark so there wasn't much to see. However, the ant-sized lights that dotted the horizon suggested a small village not too far away. It seemed like decades since the last time Chrenos had slept in a warm bed. Was it safe? Was he far enough from the general populace to pass under the radar?

Then Chrenos just straight out stopped caring. He stopped caring if people recognized him. He stopped caring is people came after him. At that moment drenched and in the dark Chrenos Tetric stopped caring about what would happen if he was found. Everyone at the moment seemed to hate him so no matter where he went he would never find solace. There is only so long Chrenos could live in exile from everyone and at one point he would have to face the music anyway. Chrenos decided if he was going to be caught might aswell be in comfort and most importantly in defiance.

Death is irrelevant but mostly innevitable. Everyone dies. Death is not a question of when but of how and what. When you die makes little difference. It's how you die and what you do until that death that really matters. Life matters, after life nothign matters. Live life to the fullest and go out with a bang that is the only logical way to live ones life. With a smile Chrenos walked down the dark road towards the village hoping to find sanctuary but seriosuly doubting it.

Chrenos caught himself wodnering if vampires would be found in that village. It was very probable or anyway somewhere around it at least but it didn't really matter. Even though he hated the vampires by nature and in a way blamed them for his situation it was irrelevent. Whether vampires recognized him or humans did at this point made little difference.

Chrenos made sure Argentum was well hidden beneath his cloak and that his hood was well over his forehead and entered the streets of the village. It was relativly still with the occasional passing of a rat or other small night critter. It was late so Chrenos wasn't surprised to find no human life in the streets. Chrenos had walked around 15 minutes before he faced his first dose of human life in a long time. It was music. Chrenos had always been a fan of music. The artistic interpretation of logical thoughts. The weaving of harmonies into almost concious beings. Music was a language more then an art, a means of expressing oneself, a means of escape for the weary minded.

Chrenos had never played an instrument. If there is one thing Chrenos regrets on a day to day basis is the fact that he cannot create music of his own. All he can do is enjoy the melodies and thoughts of others and incorporate his experiences in their flow. Chrenos listened to the melody and couldn't help but feel the musicians sadness in the music. Chrenos was more a fan of upbeat fast-paced music but slow emotional tunes had their kicks. Chrenos stood in the shadows listenign until he decided to see the musician.

Chrenos was shocked upon turning the corner. Chrenos had always believed that music was a relfection of ones person. The music who was technical, complexe and skillfully executed was being played by what looked like a common bum. Chrenos knew better then to judge a book by its cover because often the cover had to deal with the harshness of life. But was this man more then he seemed? Was this man the vestige of a talented past ripped to pieces by a mournful event represented in his music? Or was this man just a talented bum? Chrenos had to find out.

Chrenos approached the man playing the music and looked down at him. "Behind worn out covers, where light never shines live the stories of untold centuries...Every story is a link to the grand scheme of things...why has one so talented as you been rendered to the state of a common bum. Where has your story gone wrong? Most importantly when are you planning on making it better?" The shadows thrown by Chrenos's hood combined with the dim light of where they stood completed the concealment of Chrenos's face. Hopefully this would continue until his discussion with the man ended.

[Luzifer]

Oh brother! Fredrich almost cackled aloud but rather an amused little smirk curved his lips. Now we got overly dramatic idiot! This was too great! What was gonna happen now? Some bardic tale of wandering troubadours spinning rhyme and music into some cascading parody of real life? HAH! What weak-willed little fools... but it was terribly amusing to watch people squander their lives.

"Mother why are you wasting your time with that book?" Fredrich asked twisting his head towards her. He had been 9 at them time but his personality was already well on its way to forming. Already he had read books then his mother and father combined and he was more cynical than the most jaded aristocratic. Even at that young age he was completely aware of the workings of the world and had spent much time observing.

"Because I like to read these stories... they are...nice" she said and smiled vaguely. Her smile soft and innocent. Too innocent for Fredrichs taste, she was denying the truth of her problems and was trying to escape them. Well, he'd do her a favor then.

"So is that why Dad doesn't sleep with you anymore? or is it because he spends all his time with the chambermaid?" Fredrich half-questioned with a smile and watched as his mother neatly froze up and the book dropped to the floor. Her eyes wide. She had painted her nails. Fredrichs purpose finished he let his mind wander, "Or maybe its a symptom? It could be that her psy...."

Yes... it was much like that time. A fool leading the fools... What a land of the blind he lived in! How lonely it was to be a lone paragon of rationality! It wasn't even that he was particular intelligent it was just that everyone else was broken beyond repair. He wondered why that was? It really didn't matter what level of education people had because the percentage of fools he had encountered in both the nobility and the peasantry was the same, that was to say it was 100%.

Fredrich began to nibble gently on the cuticle of his thumb as he considered various conditions in his life and tried to determine how they had prevented him from being as so completely and utterly stupid as everyone else. What sort of lucky happening had allowed him to maintain his sanity in this world which was filled to bursting with bad influences? Was it...? no... was it... no nothing seemed to make sense! Was he just a fluke and that this world had been designed to spurt out broken people? or was it just that all his breakings happened to support each other and make him function? by which he mean was it that had been meant to be a shovel but his handle broke and thus he worked well as a spear? Or maybe he was the only person with a soul? For indeed while these others around him moved with the approximate machinations of ones which possessed that which he knew he had they obviously did not or the possessed it on a far more rudimentary level. What then! What if he was alone... as single rational being in this horde of idiots!! He suddenly felt very lonely but pushed that away... there had to be someone else who was rational... no matter how low the odds that the birth of logical human was there was bound to be so many humans around that at least one other one was rational! It had to be!

Fredrich II was rational... so was Roger Bacon... as was Descarte... St. Anselm as well to a certain extent-but all believed in an irrational entity that existed above all others which was blatantly impossible, so there was a limit to how sane these men could be. Was he the only one who saw this? Anslem's Ontological argument fell apart by admitting the human mind finite and yet able to conceive that was perfect! As did Descartes! St. Augustine's proof by eternal truth had falter as well and even Augustine's friend in his dialogs pointed out the fallacy! This world was an irrational construction formed! it was all impossible! Irrational. There was no "Super-Essential Godhead" to quote Dionysius the Aeropagite, but... but... there was no rational being that made this world for this world was horribly irrational and therefore no rational entity would create an irrationality, right? Super-Essential ME!! I exist... don't I? Two exists... me... thoughts...

Fredrich's head was bursting, I am Super-Essential... right?... my existance creates this world... doesn't it?... if I didn't exist my perceptions would not exist... there would be no perception and therefore no world which is itself merely a phantasm of stimuli...

[Flah Blah]

A lachrymose melody pervaded the vicinity as Corinne remained in place, although her sense of apprehension eased with every note emitting from the woodwind instrument. This would the oppurtune moment to move, thus Corinne transformed into a butterfly, the vibrantly hued ethereal wings scintillating as the moon's beam baptised it in a white empyrean glow.

The silver butterfly fluttered over to the origin of the music then metamorphosing back to its originally state as a vampire. Corinne soujourned to the shadows, attempting to maintain an inconspicuous profile as she listened to the music and the conversations of passers-by. It was asinine of her to switch to her vampiric form, especially on account of her blindness that it would evidently be dangerous. Regardless, Corinne outstretched her osteal upper appendages before her, feeling around for any objects or walls that she could possibly bump into; her cane left behind by the carnage of the Danube river.

- - - - - - -

Marius was pacing about the d'Allemagne manor as he impatiently awaited for his darling sister to return. It was definitely past twenty minutes, he would have to retrieve and reprimand her. As a sudden feeling of wrath engulfed him, the sentiment was cast out as a new feeling of dread flowed through his very homeostasis. His instinct was telling him that Corinne had left the grounds and could very well be endangered. She needs to be locked up...

The elegant man vervely sprinted from where he stood and permitted his instinct to lead him where his sibling was, the cerulean night sky becoming an even darken hue as ominous clouds began to take form, a flash of lighting bolting down to the harsh terra cotta surrounding Marius with his every few steps.

His sense of navigation was rendered disoriented as the sudden auras of homosapiens and other vampiric forms overwhlemed him as Marius entered the village. His instinct momentarily clouded...Marius had to find her, if that meant interrogating every vampire and human. There was a group of drunken adolescents over to the alleyway between an inn and a bar, Marius placidly approached to mask his abhorration of the lowly licentious and common stuper.

Sighing dramatically to himself as he interrogated each of them, he realized that these men couldn't form words with their oral cavaties let alone be articulate. It might take a while to find Corinne, but at least he felt that she was currently safe... Or was she? A myriad of morbid thoughts flowed through his cerebral cortex. Arching a brow as he caught glimpse of what appeared to be two men, one appearing to be a a poverish muscian and the other a cloaked shaggy looking fellow.

Once more, Marius placidly approached the pair, his ice-blue optics flashing malevolently as another fulmination of lightning bolted down just before his being. The pair were humans, how it digusted him. Regardless, if he had to interact with such creatures Marius would do it for the sake of locating his sister.

[Fionn Mac]

Ciaran had withdrawn the small instrument from his lips, the melody still echoing slightly throughout the area, as he was approached by a rather large unkempt man, though he had a more healthy or natural untamed look than his own. Much to his suprise, as many of those along the Danube kept to themselves, the man offered his and his name...Anthony. Then upon giving the man a quick once over, he seemed to fit the patrons' description of a large "wild-man" or "woodsman" that lived outside of town.
However, before any further analysis or action could be taken another man. this time a shrouded figure, made his presence known and chose to babble along with some idealistic or introspective ideology. Ciaran had played this somber tune many times before and this night for some odd reason, he seemed to be the center of some attention.
For Ciaran, human interaction has been melted down to simple "I'll have another" or "I've had enough" statements, as he wanted no one's pity or concern, and more importantly some objective philosophic outlook on life.
With his limited tolerance for conversation, his current "state" only added to the clouded swirl in his mind, he awkwardly took his time...almost seemingly looking past the two men.

"Do you always greet a stranger with such ideological statements?"
Questioned Ciaran, his voice low and somewhat hoarse, as he turned to the veiled man first.
"Consider this thought...I, a common bum, am seemingly much warmer and more well off than yourself, a shivering rain soaked wanderer."
Ciaran hadn't heard such an extent of his voice in sometime and though it sounded blunt and callus, suprisingly he didn't mind.
"What are you, planning on doing to make your situation better?"
Ciaran then shifted his eyes towards the door of the tavern, signaling he was done conversing with the strange man.

He then focused as best he could on the Anthony character, sensing no forthcoming thoughts on matters of rising from the ashes or unweaving natures tapestry to find the meaning of one's own existence. No, this man seemed oddly good natured, extending a once common greeting to another.
"Ciaran" Said Ciaran simply, feeling it wouldn't matter giving his name out as most of those who knew who he used to be had long since pushed his name aside.
Though he didn't have anything else to say to Anthony, other than the completion of swaping identities he did look up at the sky, noticing the how the wind blew the leaves about and the slow moving clouds melding with one another, thus acknowledging with a small nod of the head, Anthony's claim of a "beautiful" evening.
With that, Ciaran gave Anthony's hand a quick but firm shake and proceeded to reposition himself on the crate, so he could rest his head lightly against the tavern, where he'd most likely stay for the rest of the night as the adverse effects of the alcohol slowly set in.

[KuroTan]

Lewis rounded the corner. There she was, the vampire, standing there. Her senses seemed keen enough for Lewis could sense that she had noticed her arrival before he had even shown himself. Lewis offered a small bow out of courtesy then proceeded to say

"The streets aren't safe for our kind to be wandering around them alone.


"Ciaran." Anthony gave this name a thought as he shook his hand. "A pleasure to make the acquaintance of somebody who can actually play a tune other than "Oh my Mary, the shepherd's daughter"

Bursting in a loud guffaw at his own wit, he bid farewell to the music player. As he entered the tavern he was greeted by the familiar voices of the patrons.

"Break out the winter's barrels guv!"
"Drink your fill slowly lads, we won't be getting anymore after that!"
"Looks like I have to go home now!"

Anthony raised his hand "Sorry to disappoint, I'm taking today's drinks home today." Turning to the barman he motioned for three mugs of beer. "I'll bring the mugs back tomorrow."

"Knowing you, I'll be lucky if they're in one piece." he said as he passed him the mugs.

"Always with the little jokes." He said with a grin as he took his leave. Nodding his head at the daughter, he walked out into the open air. Nodding his head at Ciaran as well - his hands were full - he started for home, absentmindedly humming the tune Ciaran was playing in the process.

[Luzifer]

Well,now that the infernal racket was finished Fredrich decided to move on, this was just pathetic idle banter the stuff used to waste time that could not be put to better use by people too weak to make it efficient. Fredrich rolled a finger through his brown hair, its gently playing with its concavity as he walked pass the tavern (not wanting to enter a place so marked by people who talked) and looked for someplace more appropriate to one of his nature... a nice back alley would be good, if only people didn't dump there...waste there. It matter the whole proposition very smell and unsanitary and while he had been no to huddle close to fresh waste when the German winds blew cold and harsh he would rather avoid it if that were within the realm of possibility...

He sighed and looked about the small village, what a sad little place, going about its business unthinkingly. Like a cow, chewing its cud endlessly and mindlessly. It was because of idiots who did like things and wished to impose such a life upon him that he had left home but now he just seemed to find more of the same. Why did the human race have to be so dull and content to avoid probing the myriad facets of this world in which that had been set? It made the headache he still had beating around his head only worse. Frustrating.

There was cold wind blowing, crisp and delightful the way it froze his nerves... how he loved the cold when not taken to too great an extreme. It always sparked him from some pointless slumber. But from the way the people huddled against it they did not seem to share his appreciation for the finer aspects of life but then, that was to be expected of simpletons. He wondered why his mother couldn't have done him a favor and simply miscarried when she was pregnant with him... it would have save him a lot of grief... well it depended... it may be that Aristotle was right and before the fortieth day his soul had yet to be placed into his flesh container. In which case if she had miscarried before than he would still have been born save of another mother. He thanked that he was not a girl, they had to wait for the 80th day.

Suddenly he sat down in the middle of the road crossing his legs. People bent around him, save for one that tried to just push through him but Fredrich easily tripped him up. He didn't really feel like moving and didn't care enough about the others around him to move out of the way... this was as good a place to sleep as any.

[FullMetalAlchemist997]

Ah, another vampire. Mercy only half turned to look at him. She didn't seem to acknowledge his bow or his words for that matter, at least not at first. Mercy thought about his words for a moment. In all truth he was right, but Mercy being Mercy was not about to tell him this. "I suppose you're going to kindly offer me an escort?" She asked.
Mercy, as was normal for her, didn't seem to be looking at the other vampire so much as past him, past the whole town truly. She also did not to want to exchange pleasantries and seemed reserved to saying as little as she could.
Mercy didn't do anything to further the other vampire's impression. Nothing was different about that. Beyond her misleading dreamy expression Mercy's mind was whirring, she wanted out. James and Gregory usually were out in the woods by now, they said hunting but Mercy doubted it her house was close enough to the forest that one or both of them would come to her house just to make sure she was there.

[MaruDashi]

Looking as sickly as possible, Alice entered a nearby shop with Reginald and slowly looked around, as if she were half blind. While she did, she listened to Reg talk to the clerk about the strange girl he entered with. He worried about the food, while Alice looked for a nice collar. She spotted a pretty wine red collar with a tiny gold bell, it was perfect.

Once out and a good distance away, Alice fashioned the collar onto the small cat and smiled.
"It suits you Dinah!"

"Perhaps we shouldve gotten her a small bed..."

"Nonesense, she can sleep where she pleases."

"As long as it isnt my bed, then fine."

[Nespa]

Millie just mewed, she was a bit worried. a older vampire than her had entered the town 'they would be looking for me yet would the?' she thought as alice putted on a collar. She mentaly snickered at reginald bed comment 'geuse i am gonna try my luck tonight with him'she purred lightly her tail swaying a bit.

[Fionn Mac]

OCC: As you might have noticed, the story has slowed down a bit. Well it seems whatever is lurking within the Danube has gotten to Flah Blah's computer, causing Flah to be out of commission for a bit, probably 2 weeks. So rather than putting this rpg on the shelf, we've decided to keep it going as is. With the current state of the rpg section, this shouldn't fall to far and I plan on trying to keep it somewhat productive until Flah returns.
Therefore, consider the following as a side bar as more character development and interaction is always a plus. It will play some role in the overall story(foreshadowing and such) but it should provide an option to keep things going for a bit. Feel free to add and/or direct the action.

After dealing with the two men who oddly seemed to be concerned with his affairs, Ciaran decided to close his eyes and let his body succumb to the sleepy feeling that had come on strongly after he ended his drinking for the night. However, before he could fully drift off to what constituted as sleep for him, yet another man approached him.

Squinting his eyes to create some sort of focus, he noticed through the blurred figure a set of piercing blue eyes. His drowsy state did little to help his identification skills, but he could instantly tell that this man was no normal “man,” for the way he carried himself and his unmistakable appearance signaled him as someone of vampiric nature. Having once spent his time amongst vampires and humans alike, Ciaran could easily identify who was what…even if they disguised themselves. Their smell, mannerisms and persona were all things he’d come accustomed to over during his former “life.” He could further deduce that this one was one of nobility and thus inherited or took on the domineering visage that seemed to cut through those who hadn’t dealt with such a character before.
Nonetheless, it mattered not to Ciaran what this one wanted. Neither the piercing eyes nor the out of place lightning strike made him do anything, but simply return his eyes to a closed position.

As Marius approached closer to the two humans his displeasure with his current predicament increased even more as he saw the two up close. What a waste of time this would be, gathering any useful information from two such as these would be even less productive than dealing with the useless adolescents from before. Before he could put together something these creatures could comprehend, Marius noticed the dejected bearded human eye him for a moment, then return to his previous state. How it irked him so to see such languidness in a creature, what a disgusting thing it was to rely on humans as a source of information.
Before Marius could process another thought, his icy-blue eyes quickly shifted to see a glowing horizon of sorts in the distance moving towards the down. A twinge of urgency, or something close to it, ran through his body causing him to moved into the shadows. Finding his sister went to a highest level of importance as he realized what was coming. Once again these creatures would cause him a great deal of unwanted annoyance.

While the sun had fallen, another source of light seemed to be making its way into the town. This light was not natural, for it was the light of blaring torches of angry and slightly out of touch men. Riots and mob gatherings had plagued the surrounding areas and the town since the killings. The smell of those burning torches and liquored men wafted through the town, causing those who were still awake to seek the nearest shelter. It would seem that this angry mob had heard mutterings of vampires walking on their side of the Danube, causing them to take some sort of action.
As the mob entered the town they began belligerently knocking on doors of sleeping townspeople, searching the alleys and disrupting the normal flow of things, looking for any sign of a vampire that might be hiding or casually strolling around in “their” area. Finding nothing was not an option and as there was no legitimate law to deter them, there was nothing stopping them from obtaining some sort of satisfaction.

[Luzifer]

Fredrich sat up at the sight of people moving in a group. He sighed and muttered to himself, "more than five people bent to a singular purpose... idiocy is afoot." A groan escaped his lips slightly and he decided to make himself scarce, strangers in a town were normally the first to be blamed for its problems, even if they wore the pilgrim's frock. He disappeared down an ally, stepping over the accumulated feces that people dumped out their windows from their chamber pots. He didn't think anyone with sanity would follow him into this stench. Hell it probably spoke for his lack of sanity that he was even going in here.

Humans... how he was beginning to loathe things that claimed "rationality" in ignorance... or rather, how he loathed those that rational people seemed to identify themselves with and thus ascribe rationality. Normally those that deserved the title, rational, the most were those who foolish ascribed it to humanity. Which was itself an irrational ascription... heh... circlular logic... lovely

[KuroTan]

Lewis tensed as he heard the sounds of the assembled mob. Perfect timing.he thought with a grimace.

"Stop daydreaming," he said as he thought of a possible escape route. "We have to go. Do you have anywhere to stay for the night?"

Anthony took the long route back. He didn't want to tangle himself with the mob, needless violence not something he was very comfortable with. Though he had no idea what had really caused those killings, he was inclined to leave the vampires well enough alone. Besides, if Lewis was to be the mascot for his kind, then Anthony had nothing to worry about. A bit of a naive concept on his part, but he was always the trusting sort of person anyway.

As he opened the door to his cabin, he immediately noticed that something was amiss. Dinner was cooking but there was no sign of the cook. A quick check of the house confirmed his suspicions: Lewis was gone.

Whatever he's up to, I just hope he realizes how dangerous it is for him to be out right now. Anthony thought to himself as he took a swig out of the mug of beer that he had brought home.

[FullMetalAlchemist997]

Mercy didn't react visibly to the mob sounds, at least it might look not. She finally focused on Lewis. "As a matter of fact I do, we're not far from it now, I'm not as stupid as I look" She snapped. That was the most she had said today maybe in her entire lifetime. Her sharp mind assembled some possible outcomes and most of them ended with James and Gregory dying. "I wouldn't suggest we go there" She said, knowing it would put them on a longer course but ultimately leave her brothers a bit safer.

She picked up some of the voices a bit clearer she scanned the alleyways. "Do you have a place to go?" She asked. Why am I so talkitive today? Normally, I would've left him on his own. She shifted waiting for his reply, hopefully he would live close enough but the time for dallying had passed when the stupid mortals decided to take it up with vampires for that was obviously the blood they were screaming for.

Mercy had commited the alleyways to memory when she moved. It had been at the time mostly to satisfy her family that she would be okay. SHe was never so thankful for her knowledge at the moment. She doubted that the mob would know the ways as well as she and if they did....well at the moment Mercy didn't want to think of that outcome. She glanced around reviewing her mental map of the area.

[Inc0gnit0]

This man of the street in appearance put a smile on Chrenos's face. His response showed wit. Not an incredible amount but in his current state just reciting one word after an other could be comparable to running a marathon. There was no way for Ciaran to actually see this smile due to the shadows and his low hood. Chrenos wondered who he actually was. He knew very well not to judge the inside. Himself a man of the inner court would fool even the most nobel of nobels in his current attire. Wet and weary Ciaran marked a point, the tavern looked inviting but Chrenos wanted to test that drunken wit some more.

Chrenos hadn't even noticed the woodsman that had approached Ciaran at about the same time as him and to be honest he didn't interest him. He held no interesting secrets nor hidden wit to pry at and enjoy. Chrenos just ignored him and soon he went on with his night. When he disapeared into the dark tavern entrance Chrenos looked down at Ciaran again. "Why on the defencive...can't a mere weary traveler wonder where beautiful music originated from." If Ciaran couldn't see the smirk on Chrenos's face he could probably feel it in his voice.

Chrenos decided to sit down next to Ciaran whether he wanted or not. Worst come to worst Ciaran would just leave but right now Chrenos was in deep need of a talk. "Wet clothes and weary legs are the least of my troubles. I was thrown into a life by others and now I wander around seeing where life will take me. I have seen too many good men drown their life in the stupor of gin and Rhum. If you will believe anything I say let it be this. Life is meant to be lived not to be watched as it unfurls infront of your drunken stare. I don't know you or what happened to you but I see inteligence in your eyes far beyond that of a common drunk. Tell me what troubles you, I am in great need of a talk."

Then he heard a noise he recognized too well. It was the noise of an angry mob. He had heard it countless times in his life and many times it had passed and gone never involving him. However, his life had been deeply unsettled by the roar of the common people and Chrenos had grown to not trust it. Chrenos doubted the crowd was looking for him but he knew better then to let them find him anyway. They were still off in the distance and he wasn't really ready to leave his new "friend" just yet. As the noise grew louder it became obvious that not only were they going a bit everywhere but they were getting closer.

Chrenos got up. He looked down at Ciaran. "I suggest you follow me...I don't think you're in any state to deal with an angry mob. I doubt they have anythign against you but mobs can be very illogical when the wrong buttons are pressed. I understand you shouldn't be trusting me but hey I want to continue our little discussion plus I know no one around here nor do I know where to go. How about it?" Chrenos then waited for his answer as the mopb got closer and closer.

[Fionn Mac]

Ciaran once again slowly opened his emerald eyes as gazed at the hooded figure that had taken a seat next to him. Taking a little while to focus his thoughts and senses, he eventually noticed the familiar mob that began to spread through the streets. How he used to detest such organized violence, justified by some skewed claim of one's right to take back what was their's. Peering at the mob he noticed vaugley familiar faces, some of which were embedded in his mind due to their attendence at that horrid night's event. However, now he cared little of what they did or would do, as it was beyond foolish to go against the current of things for too long, thinking one's actions could change the actions of many. Though apart of him felt remorse for anyone that might fall prey to the mob, for their means of "justice" were far beyond a word such as inhumane.
As the mob passed the by the tavern, stopping before they began to scour the alleys and surrounding buildings, Ciaran remembered the images of justice he'd seen. Vampires tied to trees, their stomachs cut almost ritually, as to bleed them of their lives...which for a vampire was rather short if even if the wound was taken care of, as without new blood their fate was sealed. Chain's lined with silver caused burns and often lead to terrible infections, causing much distress to a vampire that was lucky to get away.
And while such humans were cruel and inhumane, the vampire mobs were no better, doing similar things to humans they captured.

Before turning his attention back to the shrowded man, Ciaran briefly rubbed the scars that lined his hands and wrists, reminding him of times he used his own blood to save vampires and to free captured humans as well.
"If you are looking for someone to talk with...there are many women who would enjoy such talk, much more than the normal nature of a man's visit"
Said Ciaran, his voice somewhat hoarse and annoyed, as he pointed towards a brothel across the way.
"I have no need of such idealistic thoughts...the idea is what matters most and everything else is comes after?...I've heard these arguments before, they serve no purpose in reality."

Although Ciaran remained calm, he was becoming suprisngly annoyed with the stranger. Perhaps it was due to his persistence on talking or it could have been that he'd heard such ideology before and though he may have believed in it once, words could not rationalize his loss or put some objective positive spin on things.
"If it's a discussion you seek, you'll find no such thing with me"
Said Ciaran as he got up to his feet, having to brace himself on a barrel next to him due to his present lack of coordination.
"However, it's likely best to do as I will and stick to the shadows until they satisfy themselves...follow if you wish, though draw no uneeded attention to yourself."

With that Ciara pulled a small cloth pouch from him coat pocket and placed it over the silver laced caged hilt of his broadsword...an action of habit from his days dealing with the vampiric culture. He then slowly set off, clinging near the alley entrances and dark corners of the streets.

[KuroTan]

Lewis was surprised. The girl was assertive, though you wouldn't notice that by just looking at her. She seemed annoyed too for some reason. But that wasn't important. What was important was that they had to get out of the streets before the mob spotted them. Even though they wouldn't be likely to be noticed as vampires, it didn't hurt to be cautious.

"You're not going back to your place? Where will you hide then?" Lewis turned to the direction he knew would lead him back to his cabin. "As for me, I've done my bit. I warned a fellow vampire of the dangers of the streets. I thought you were someone who didn't know this. I apologize if I was rude" With a tip of his head, Lewis made to leave.

[Inc0gnit0]

4 letters. I, D, E and A. Such a simple word yet such a powerful word. Everything originated from ideas. Thoughts are meaningless, only actions depict who you truly are. That is true but no action carries any weight without thought and belief. No matter how useless the ideas are in reality by themself they are the bulding blocks of everything. They are the fundamentals that guide all actions, that guides all humans. Ideas in a way are the soul of the mind.

Ideas can send a man to the gallows, start a revolution or destroy civilisation. An idea can start the chain reaction to anything, start the path to greatness or to failure. Ideas are the spark to thought. Ideas will outlive any men, belief will give power to the weak, ideologies will shape the world centuries later. Humanities greatest gift is its ability to come up with ideas. No one can take away your ability to think, your reasoning, your ability to come up with ideas. The last thing that is broken is the coherence of your mind. Even after your body is broken and beyond repair your mind will think up new theories that can still impact reality. When you stop believing in your thoughts then, just then, do you stop truly living.

Chrenos had followed Ciaran into a dark alley very close to where they had just been. Chrenos followed Ciaran but stayed at least three steps behind him. It was almost as if he was trailing Ciaran. He kept his distance but made sure to see his every movements. The noise in the background signaled that the mod had doubled their efforts to find victims. At this point it mattered not who they brought in, by the end of the night somebody would be "guilty."

It's surprising how stupid could get when together. They say the minds of many will overpower the mind of one. Well the many sure didn't proove that often. Chrenos looked back just in time to see a lone peasant, a torch in hand illuminate the alley they were walking down. A loud yell later and a large enough group of angry peasants with torches, pitchforks and even a few more sophisticated weapons were runnign after them. Ciaran was way too slow in his current state. Chrenos understood why but it was irrelevant at this point.

The man who had spotted them at first was way infront of the others and Chrenos noticed that he was wielding a wooden stick and he was very agitated. He was yelling giberish that Chrenos couldn't make out and before he knew it the peasant was swinging his makeshift bat towards chenos's head. Chrenos reacted instantly and unattached his sheath from his belt and brought it up to protect himself from the attack. He realized too late that Argentum was out of his cloak. The peasant's bat collided and broke on Argentum's hard sheath.

The peasant was more surprised then anythign and backed a few steps waiting for his buddies to back him up. Chrenos decided it would be time to make an inovative break for it. Chrenos punched the peasant in the face and stole his torch. He then held it with his teeth while he unsheathed Argentum and slashed a few ropes that were holding barrels on the side of the alley. The barrels came crashing down blocking the alley slightly. It was nothign impossible to climb but then Chrenos threw the torch on the mess and it cought on fire very quickly.

Chrenos resheathed Argentum very quickly and put the shetah back under his cloak attached to his belt. He didn't feel like confronting an angry mob just yet but at least this might had dissuaded them from coming after him. Chrenos then turned around to catch up to Ciaran not knowing if he had even realized what had happened. He doubted that Ciaran was that drunk but you never knew.

[Luzifer]

Fredrich sighed as he stood outside the town, sneaking out had been easy, mere reflex more than a concious action. He over stayed his welcome at many an inn on his recent travels and would have to skip town without paying. The experiences had taught him a little bit about both people and himself. People were slaves to the material world and irrationalism. He wasn't.

He watched the torches of the mob gently weave their way from house to house and he tipped a hat he was not wearying to the sheer dedication and earnestness with which they pursued insanity. Any other group of people would at least put on airs of fairness and equity, those false shows of intellect that people wore so that they could stand and claim "See I am wise and I am just!" But such things were mere lies of irrational idiotic individuals...assonance. He could respect those that did not lie to themselves, though it created a slight irony in that they pursue irrationality in the most rational way one could pursue it, that is to say, the way which produced irrationality with the highest rate of efficacy. Great IPEE (which was Irrations Per Energy Expended). He began clapping, and laughing? maybe...

He wondered how many would die? What was the ratio of output for this? Because it was a fact that they would kill a few humans in their attempts to get at the vampires which would prove amusing.

A child walks through the town... "Daddy?"

"yes dear"

"why is that man organs dangling from him? Why are they used to write blasphemies on the ground? and his...

"He's a vampire deary"

"...um...hes not"

"whoops"

God he wanted to be there! He wished he could see that! Maybe he should stick around... he rubbed his chin... he felt movement... apparently he was laughing...no...chuckling now. He had been planning to be in the next town by tomorrow night but he just had to stay and witness this March of Folly (thank you Erasmus). It was to golden an opportunity for merriment and humor. He walked back into town. This was going to be fun! He could see it now... A blood-stain St Francis of Assisi meeting Bonaventure's Six-winged seraph upon the mount. "Show me than six steps to enlightment!" Would he answer 'The lower wings Sense and imagination, the middle wings reason and understanding, and the upper wings intellect and the spark of syndersis'? No! "The seven steps are thus "Murder" and "Copulate", "Hate" and "Love", "Evil" and "Sin" !" Fredrich laughed

God! This was going to be amusing! Bring on the Liars and witch trials! If these people were going to be irrational he might as well use it to his amusement. And it might be a good lesson into the horrors that he, his Super-Essential Self, had saved himself from by granting himself the spark of rationality.

[FullMetalAlchemist997]

Mercy smiled slightly. "I wouldn't go in a direct route, it'll only lead the mob to your door. I never said I wasn't going back only that it wouldn't be a great idea to go directly back" She reviewed what she knew of the twisting maze of alleyways. Hopefully if I take the route with the most twists and turns I can get to my house without leading them there. She could hear the mob slolwy getting closer. "You'd better start finding a way home" She said and ducked into the nearest alley.

"Why?"
"We're not understood..."
The memory of a past conversation with Gregory pounced on Mercy without warning. She turned the corner and paused to gauge how close the mob actually was. Stupid humans with a thirst for vegeance could be a vampire's greatest threat, or so some said but they failed to take Mercy into account when they said this.

The mob's noises had faded slowly but being precautious had it's advantages Mercy had learned. She stopped for a moment and pressed herself against the wall. Just for a rest...she didn't allow herself to rest for long though and she was weaving through the maze with the silence and ease of someone who had traversed these ways before.

[MaruDashi]

OOC: Sorry for being away for so long


BIC:

Alice hurried back home and set up and nice, cozy area for her new kitty to sleep in. She set up the bed next to the fire place, since the winters could be harsh.

"Why bother if the cat can sleep where she pleases?"

"So if she gets cold, theres a bed for her. Would you have me have her sleep on the floor?"

Reginald let out a deep sigh and didnt bother to press the matter any further. He watched as Alice teased the cat with a piece of string, rolled his eyes, sat down and began to read.

"With all your years you still act like such a child."

"Better to be old and young at heart then young and act like a bitter old man."

"....touchee"

[Nespa]

millie batted at the string piece, honestly she could not understand what cats liked about chasing it. She mentally smirked as reginald sat down and abandoned the piece of string for jumping on his lap and squirm under the book and started nesting making sure her nails reached deep. she purred at reginald and gave him slightly a evil look before laying down.

[Fionn Mac]

OOC: Ditto for sorry for being away lately, pre final exam weeks are causing a lot of unwanted work.
Ciaran had kept his rather slow pace, uneffected by what went on behind him. He had shifted his eyes back to see that the strange man had closed off the alley entrance behind them, setting it on fire to deter the mob from atleast coming down that way.
Never one for violence, but capable with his sword nonetheless, Ciaran had no interest in meaningless violence or altercations. Whatever physical harm that might come to him in such instances did not stop him from going through the motions.

Regaining some of his finer motor functions Ciaran tried to navigate the seemingly endless alley way he had decided to enter.
As he walked, still somewhat annoyed the stranger continued to follow him, his feet came to a stop as he came upon a few of the men from the mob rather belligerently questioning a peasant and his young son. Ciaran noticed that they were not of the vampiric nature, though the young child was rather pale...most likely from one of the many illnesses common to the street folk.
Nonetheless, the mob men concluded the boy was a vampire and insisted the man hand him over to them. And only naturally the man refused, causing him to receive a club to the stomach, followed by one to the back.
Not wanting to get involved, Ciaran tried to casually brush past one of the mob members...though in the man's own annoyance he was struck upside the head with a "misplaced" blow.

Feeling his body hit the cold ground of the alley way, Ciaran managed to sit up rather slowly and rub his head as it was now throbbing more than usual.
Still unsatisfied, one of the mob men raised his hand and struck the young boy across the face, causing his long unkempt brown hair to fly about. Upon seeing this Ciaran's mind was sent back to an all to vivid memory of his eldest daughter's similar hairstyle.
A rather coincidental connection caused Ciaran to pull the cloth covering off the caged guard of his sword and suprisingly bolt up from his sitting position.
Before the man could strike the child again, Ciaran unsheathed his sword and drove the silver alloyed steel guard of his sword into the man's jaw...causing him to quickly fall to the ground in a bloodied mess.
Shooting a "go on" glance to the peasant, the father quickly grabbed his son and headed down an adjacent alley way behind them.
By this time the rest of the mob were bearing down toward Ciaran, though as if determined for some reason Ciaran reacted quickly enough to duck under two men, allowing him sweep his sword around to catch both men across the chest.

[FullMetalAlchemist997]

Mercy walked a bit slower. Closer? How the...She pressed back against the wall. And listened trying to figure out how the sounds of the mob had gotten closer. She reviewed her path then kicked herself for taking a wrong turn and realizing it. And I put myself closer to those angry humans...She was about ready to retrace her steps when a man and boy hurried by. Luckily they didn't notice Mercy.

She closed her eyes trying to visually imagine the alleys when she realized that wrong turn had put her somewhere off in uncharted territory. Great, now she had no idea where she was and the mob was closer than before. She walked slowly not making a sound trying to get further away from the mob. If they caught her there would be no doubt that she would be mercilessly beaten and killed with her inards pulled out for the world to see. But at least she knew her brothers would be safer for the time being.

Despite her good intentions Mercy only ended up closer than she intended. She knew that if she was to have a chance she absolutely had to change at some point. But being Mercy she was going to put it off until the last possible moment. She managed to move as swiftly as she could without making a sound but it was still to slow if they stopped "interrogating" whoever it was they decided were vampires and moved she would be caught and if she made a sound she'd be caught. It was a no win situation that she'd gotten herself into. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[Seikyu Kiba]

OOC: Alright I think I got it pretty much covered...lets see if I have imprved or am still rusty...Fullmetal, Nespa, Maru, Luz do I not get a hi for being gone for so long? XD

BIC:

As he stared down at his dearly departed fathers corpse, his body began to tremble with fear, and yet..at the same time a burst of anger and hatred overwhelmed him. "THOSE BLOOD SUCKING MONSTERS!!!" He said looking at his fathers bow, "I shall have my revenge!" He ran out the door of his small wooden once home, and into the forest. He ran for what seemed to be hours. Fallus stopped eventually as he came to a small town. "Well...this seems like a fine place.." He said as a piece of his hair fell infront of his face. "For a hunt." He began to walk along the cobble stone streets, he had an evil grin on his face as he walked "This is my night for revenge!"

OOC: Well I hope this will do.

[Inc0gnit0]

OOC: I've been so busy aswell lol. I'll try to be more active now.

BIC: Things happened quickly as they often do in times of crisis. Humans especially in large groups could be so stupid sometimes. There was this theory that said a large group of common people would always be more wise then a small group of experts. That was definitely debatable especially in situations like this.

After having made the mob turn back Chrenos had followed Ciaran slightly closer then he had before. A part of the mob had decided they would make a young pale boy one of their victims tonight and Ciaran had reacted especially quickly for a man of the glass. CHrenos knew that this man was more then he let others see. His movements were trained, they were the movements of a man of the sword.

A hord of man started gathering infornt of him as he let the father and his son escape. It was obvious that the boy was no more a vampire that he was so it was the right thing to do. Had he really been a vampire then things might have turned ugly but this mob was only trying to find a scapegoat to their madness, they needed to justify their mad rampage. Unfortunately too often angered men acted irrationally. Especially men who had their pride hurt.

Ciaran quickly disposed of 2 men with a precise quick slash to the stomach. But there were way too many men to deal with at once however the narrow area in which they would fight would definately be to their advantage. It was often as if not more important to pick a good attacking or defending position then to pick your actual fighters. In a place like this two men fighting side by side could deal massive amounts of damage to any army. Numbers count for little if they can't surround you.

Chrenos quickly took a few steps forward to place himself next to Ciaran. "Well well well, you have fangs afterall...let me aid you..." Chrenos quickly unsheathed Argentum and dodged a bat that had been swung his way. He then quickly unwrapped the chain around his right forearm and attached it to Argentum's sheath. He hten attached the other end to the end of Argentum's hilt. Chrenos always fought with both the sheath and the sword. The sheath had been made especially sturdy for this purpose.

The chain that connected the sheath and the sword swerved many purposes like giving Chrenos a much farther range with his sword. The problem int his situation was that in this narrow passage and with Ciaran by his side he had to be very careful not to chop Ciaran's head on top of his own. Chrenos wasn't going to be very fancy during this fight due to this but he seriously doubted that he would need to. The men facing him were not soldiers, they were brawlers at best.

Chrenos decided that he would try to kill as few as possible. Therefore, he started blocking their hits with his sword and knocking them out or breaking bones with the sheath. He also sometimes used the chain to parry hits or even choke adversaries. It wasn't really Chrenos's style to leave people alive when he fought them but Chrenos decided that their stupidity tonight would not cost them death from his hand. It was a choice Chrenos made and he knew that especially in his current situation that he wouldn't be making that decision many times int he future.

[KuroTan]

OOc: Sorry I've been out. School's catching up on me. And I'd like to say sorry again for how short this post will be. Finals are just around the corner.><

Not wasting any time, Lewis quickly changed forms into a bat. Inconspicuos and too common to be regarded as out of place, he flew above town as he watched the mob weave it's way in and out of the streets and alleys. Down, way down, he could see where a duo were sorrounded by one such mob. So they had humans mistaken for vampires then, how very... predictable. Adding an extra burst of speed, he hastened for home.

[FullMetalAlchemist997]

OOC: Lol, Seikyu, welcome back. Speaking of which I have a horrible headache from listening to family bicker over who split the wishbone in the chicken on Thanksgiving. (Yeah we eat chicken not turkey, go figure) SO if I seem a little off please correct me.

BIC:
Mercy walked slowly. Another part of the mob came suddenly. She pressed herself against the wall. Go on past, please. Mercy thought with annoyance.

"Where'dya think it went?" Asked one, his accent identified him as a farmer almost immediately.

"What went? You're hearing things that aren't there, Ben" Another said."

Mercy wanted to laugh at the absurdity. Stupid. It was labeled all over them. They bickered for a few minutes before finally heading off. Mercy stepped away from the wall. The alleys had in no way become any safer for her but the most immediate of her dangers was gone.

She managed to draw a bit further away from the mob. She continued at her silent pace if she started running she'd make a sound and give herself away. Mercy hoped that she hadn't put herself in danger just to find out her brothers had to fight a mob. It wouldn't make her too happy. Not that she was happy now.

[Seikyu Kiba]

OOC: Yeah I crawled out of a hole in the ground. Lol

Fallus over heard the mob and gave an evil smile "Well, well...looks like there is a hunt for those disgusting creatures." He said running down a near by alley way. "Come out, come out." He said loading his bow with a Silver arrow. He then turned the corner to see a girl walking away from him down the alley way and smiled "Well well, this must be the monster they are after." He said raising his bow. "Taste my arrow Demon!" He yelled as he let go of the string and the arrow went flying towards the girl.

[FullMetalAlchemist997]

Between his shout and the arrow Mercy barely had to to move out of the way. As it was the edge caught her on her right arm. She almost didn't seem to notice although the tiny cut hurt badly. She could almost guaruntee that he had shot a silver arrow. Just judging by the pain in her arm.

James and Gregory wended their way through the woods. They were supposed to be hunting but their younger sister hadn't been home when they stopped by. Not to mention the fact that they were worried about Mercy being caught in the mob that had formed. "James, why don't we head this way?" Gregory said breaking the silence.

James nodded. "She seems to feel safe there. Not that there's any place safe around here tonight" The two vampires headed off in the direction of the alleyways that Mercy seemed to so love.

Mercy didn't say anything. Aside from her dark eyes widening in pain for a few seconds she didn't visibly react to the threat of him. He's not part of the mob but I'll bet he's got some time of grudge. Mercy thought the last little bit was sarcastic. Of course he had a personal grudge, ortherwise he wouldn't be here and Mercy's arm wouldn't be throbbing.

[Seikyu Kiba]

Fallus smirked when he saw the wreched creature get hit in the arm. "Well, looks like my shots aren't to bad." He said walking towards the fowl beast. "You, monster...I would like to know the name of the one I am about to kill!" He yelled to the vampire mistress. He then loaded two arrows into his bow as he walked and pointed it up to the women. "You are but a women, usually I wouldn't strike such a beautiful women, but you are nothing but a demon! Die!" He yelled as he let go of the string and the arrows flew at full force towards the vampire Hmph that shot was perfect, it will be hard to dodge that. Fallus was very happy with what he was doing, but something was also telling him...he was making a horrible mistake.

[Fionn Mac]

It had taken sometime for Ciaran to realize that the walls of the alley beyond covered with blood. Aside from the two men he had initially killed, he had refrained from dealing anymore death blows...thought it may have been partly due to the fact that he was quickly losing whatever newfound focus he had.
However, as he crouched down and drove his swords guard into another man's stomach, he noticed something very odd. The man's eyes seems to have a faint red glow to them...a certain word for such a thing came to mind but he couldn't quite formulate it. Upon noticing this, he also became aware of something else...the mob men no longer shouted or yelled cries of battle, no they simply remained quiet and autonomous. An odd sight indeed for men who were fuled by rage and the bottle alike to be of such indifference.

Before any further contemplation could happen, the mob suprisingly stood to attention and filed out of the alley. Elsewhere in the small town, the rest of the mob seemed to being to move in a similar way back to where they had come from. Some members remained and continued their search, still seeming like their "normal" personas.
Ciaran took this change as a chance to move his laboring body down another side alley that took him out into the open streets and the fresh cool air. Finding the nearest building, Ciaran sat himself down against one of the outside walls and tried to keep himself from seeing the alcohol he had previously drank a while before.

[FullMetalAlchemist997]

Mercy knew the second he let go of the arrows she wouldn't be able to dodge. At least not this time. She didn't think just tried to dodge. One last time.

James immediately recognized his sister. Not to mention the fact she was about to die. He looked back over his should as if expecting Gregory to come loping up. Then he transformed into a light brown wolf and closed the distance between them.

Mercy just had time to see her brother come bounding up. Next thing she knew he was on the ground. She blinked. Two questions had time to move through her brain. How did he get here in time? It was this question that lead to the other. Why he even do that? She knelt, almost forgetting there was another here.

James moaned. He had transformed a minute before. The arrows hadn't hit anything vital, but it hurt. He smiled noticing his sister seemed unhurt by the arrows. "Hello"

Mercy wanted to smack him. She closed her eyes for a moment. Sure enough Gregory rounded the corner.

Gregory noticed James on the ground and the hunter and Mercy all in one look. His jaw dropped. "The mob sort of fell apart" He said to no one in particular.

[Seikyu Kiba]

Fallus watched as the wolf took the arrow for the girl vampire and then another one came running up and mentioned something about a mob. "Hmph, you mean that mob that was chasing after you vampires? I am apart of nothing of that, that mob is just a bunch of people who no nothing of looking for vampires." he said holding up his bow "I am here to get revenge on your kind...for killing my father." He said loading the bow quickly. "Now, enough talk...and more dying!" Fallus jumped up on a rock that was against the alley wall and stood ontop of it. "Hmph." He aimed his arrow directly at the woundeds heart.

[.Gogo]

RPG closed at request of the GM.